True Costs of Food Database

The hidden costs of food

Current food systems negatively impact human health, the environment, and society, thereby generating enormous hidden costs. In 2020, these amounted to 2.3 trillion euros per year in Europe alone, averaging 6 percent of GDP in countries with industrial food systems.

The hidden costs of food

Current food systems negatively impact human health, the environment, and society, thereby generating enormous hidden costs. In 2020, these amounted to 2.3 trillion euros per year in Europe alone, averaging 6 percent of GDP in countries with industrial food systems.

True Costs of Food Database

This is the first open-access database to use a True Cost Accounting (TCA) approach. It covers the production-related environmental and health impacts and hidden costs of more than 2,000 food products consumed in Europe and sourced from 81 countries.

True Costs of Food Database

This is the first open-access database to use a True Cost Accounting (TCA) approach. It covers the production-related environmental and health impacts and hidden costs of more than 2,000 food products consumed in Europe and sourced from 81 countries.

A True Cost Accounting approach

To calculate the hidden production-related environmental and health costs of food products, the database uses impact data from the Sustainability Assessment of Foods and Diets (SAFAD) dataset and translates these impacts into monetary values using two established approaches: rights-based and damage costs monetization.

A True Cost Accounting approach

To calculate the hidden production-related environmental and health costs of food products, the database uses impact data from the Sustainability Assessment of Foods and Diets (SAFAD) dataset and translates these impacts into monetary values using two established approaches: rights-based and damage costs monetization.

The impacts of food production

The database calculates true costs for nine production-related environmental and health impact categories. Click to understand each impact indicator and how it is calculated.

The impacts of food production

The database calculates true costs for nine production-related environmental and health impact categories. Click to understand each impact indicator and how it is calculated.

Watch this short explainer video to discover what the True Costs of Food Database is and why it's important.